Melvin George Kunkel
B.A., MD, B.Sc. (ORTH), F.R.C.S.(C), F.A.C.S., D.A.B.O.S.
June 10, 1920- Feb. 20, 2013
Melvin Kunkel lived an active life for 93 years and died after a brief stay in hospital. He is survived by his loving wife Carmen who will miss him dearly, and children Dick (Valika), Don (Wendy), Pam (Clay), and Penny (Wally). He also had twelve grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, and is survived by his sister Catherine. He was predeceased by his parents, George and Peggy Kunkel, and his first wife Lois. Melvin was born in Aneroid, Saskatchewan and raised in Assiniboia in southern Saskatchewan. He attended the University of Saskatchewan where he completed his pre-medicine program. After working for three years, he attended medical school at the University of Toronto and obtained his medical degree in 1945. After a brief internship in Regina, he married Lois and they moved to Humboldt, SK., where he practiced and started to raise a family. He furthered his education and received a Master's Degree with a speciality in orthopaedic surgery from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota then moved to Saskatoon, SK where he practiced medicine and continued raising the family. As well as a member of both the Canadian and American Medical Associations, he also went on to become a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Society. In Saskatoon he was active in the formation of a Junior B Hockey League and was instrumental in building the Medical Arts Building. He also imported and bred French Charolais cattle and was an active hunter and fisherman. After raising his family in Saskatoon and a series of unfortunate events in his cattle herd, he moved to the community of Duncan, BC and practiced in the field of orthopaedic surgery for several more years then retired to Victoria. He married Carmen Martine in 2007 and moved back to the Duncan area where he and Carmen wrote and published his 2nd Large Print cookbook with CNIB in mind, to help people with low vision. The family would like to thank the kind doctors and nurses at the Duncan Hospital, especially Dr. Phillippson and Martha Roberge, who provided palliative care in his last days. A Celebration of Mel's life will take place at St. Edward's Church in Duncan at 1:00PM on Friday, March 8th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cowichan Hospital Foundation #4- 466 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan, B.C V9L 3R6. Online condolences may be offered at H.W. Wallace
